Parking Route Blocking for Autonomous Valet Collision Avoidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

The risk of collisions between autonomous and non-autonomous vehicles, as well as with pedestrians, is not adequately addressed in existing autonomous valet parking systems, leading to unclear right-of-way situations and potential hazards.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for operating a parking lot that determines a route for autonomous vehicles and blocks sections of the route using communication networks and infrastructure like signal transmitters and barriers, ensuring the vehicle can drive autonomously through the blocked sections while preventing other vehicles and pedestrians from entering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the parking lot allows free movement for all vehicles, then traffic flow efficiency is improved, but collision risk between autonomous and non-autonomous vehicles increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraffic flow efficiencyVSAvoidcollision risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by determining a route for the autonomous vehicle and blocking relevant sections before the autonomous vehicle drives through them. This prevents collision risks while maintaining efficient traffic flow for non-autonomous vehicles in unblocked areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The parking lot route is segmented into blocked and unblocked sections. Only the sections necessary for the autonomous vehicle's journey are blocked, while other areas remain open for normal traffic flow, thus maintaining productivity while ensuring safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If sections of the route are blocked for autonomous vehicles, then collision risk is reduced, but traffic flow efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision riskVSAvoidtraffic flow efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of blocking the entire parking lot, only specific local sections necessary for the autonomous vehicle's route are blocked. This localized approach minimizes the impact on overall traffic flow while ensuring safety in the specific area where the autonomous vehicle is operating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the parking lot operates without route blocking, then ease of operation is improved, but right-of-way clarity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational simplicityVSAvoidright-of-way clarity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary blocking mechanism that clearly delineates right-of-way for autonomous vehicles. This mediator (the blocked section) provides explicit information about which areas are reserved for autonomous vehicles, eliminating ambiguity without requiring complex communication between vehicles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3213315B1Method and device for operating a parking space
Publication Date: 2021.04.14 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3213315B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3213315B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a parking space, wherein - a route to a target position within the parking space is ascertained for an autonomous drive of a vehicle on the parking space to the target position, and - at least one segment of the route is blocked to other vehicles before the vehicle drives through the segment such that the vehicle can drive autonomously through the blocked segment of the route. The invention further relates to a device for operating a parking space, to a parking system, and to a computer program.